Emergency signal assembly



United States Patent [72] Inventors Hubert Graulich 6801 Brighton Place,Coral Gables, Florida 33133; Peter Graulich, 6801 Brighton Place, CoralGables, Florida 33133 [21] Appl. No. 826,899 [22] Filed May 22, 1969[45] Patented Sept. 1, 1970 [54] EMERGENCY SIGNAL ASSEMBLY 8 Claims, 5Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.C1 116/124, 9/9 [51] Int. Cl G09f9/00 [50] Field ofSearch 116/124, 124.9; 9/9; 46/90; 222/5 [56] References Cited UNITED STATESPATENTS 1,315,955 9/1919 Gill l 46/90 2,395,006 2/1946 Leslie 46/90X.

I 155 I46 //7 a; //5 l M2 I 1 l 52 K 1 l I x54 1 /W) PrimaryExaminer-Louis .l. Capozi Attorney-John Cyril Malloy ABSTRACT: A carrierassembly for attachment to a signal balloon preferably of luminescent,lnternational orange color in which the balloon when inflated with a gassuch as helium, hydrogen etc. will suspend the carrier, and in which thecarrier includes a gas reservoir communicable with a discharge nozzle towhich the balloon is sealingly connected, and in which a manuallyoperable firing pin is engageable with a frangible seal, of thereservoir and in which an electrically operated supplemental signalassembly is controlled by an operating cord beneath the assembly whenaloft whereby a repetitive signal can be transmitted.

Patented Sept. 1, 1970 3,526,202

Sheet of2 HUBEFPT' GPQUL ICH y :ETER GRflZL/CH E g Z HTTOANEX PatentedSept. 1, 1970 3,526,202

Sheet 2 of2 //UVEA/ TGRS" HUB'E R T GRHUL/C H PE TE 1? GRFJUL ICH 1477"ORA/E X EMERGENCY SIGNAL ASSEMBLY BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Whenmoving through undeveloped terrain, flying across uncharted terrain oracross great expanses of water, or when sailing unknown waters, althoughone may be in constant contact with various bases by radio, for example,it is extremely difficult, at times, to locate one under emergencyconditions.

Many visual signal means have been suggested in the past includinginflated balloons of a visible color, kites, smoke signals, flags etc.In addition to launching signal apparatus aloft a sufficient height tobe observed by aircraft or ships, because of the limitations of visualobservation, it is important that the signals be interrupted to reorientthe normally reflected light rays to attract a searchers attention, andat night, to provide a visual signal that can be controlled in arepetitive fashion to send international codes emergency signals, and inany event, to attract a searchers attention. Further, modern radarequipment enables searchers to discern even the current flow where aswitch is opened or closed.

SUMMARY Primary objects of the present invention are:

To provide a novel carrier assembly to which an inflatable signalballoon is sealingly attached and inflated with gas to afford buoyancy,and means for tethering the balloon and oscillating the balloon toprovide signals by changing the incidence of light being reflected;

To provide a novel carrier in which firing pins are operatively insertedthrough frangible seals of a gas reservoir cartridge;

To provide a carrier which includes supplemental signal means preferablyan electrically operated light controlled by a switch operated by aflexible cord whereby repetitive signals can be transmitted.

These together with other and more specific objects and advantages willbecome apparent from a consideration of the following description whentaken in conjunction with the drawing forming a part thereof, in which:

IN THE DRAWING FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic perspective view illustratingthe emergency signal device in a condition of use;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view, on an enlarged scale, showing thecarrier assembly of the invention in relation to an inflated balloon;

FIG. 3 is a view, similar to FIG. 2, on a further enlarged scale,illustrating structural details;

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view similar to FIG. 2, illustratinganother embodiment; and

FIG. 5 is a section similar to FIG. 3, illustrating structural detailsof FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIG. I, a boat isillustrated at L and has the lower end of a tethering line C attached toan emergency signal device I which includes a carrier assembly 12 andinflatable buoyant balloon I4 preferably colored International,luminescent orange which will be particularly visible to a searcherseye. The carrier assembly I2 is preferably produced from a relativelystable, non-corrosive material such as plastic which can be readilymolded. The assembly includes a frame 16 having a laterally-openingchamber 18 having an annular, conical seal 20 at one end in engagementwith a transverse, apertured portion 22. The chamber 18 is surrounded bya retention band 24, integral with the frame 16, and a thumbmanipulablescrew 26 is extendible into the chamber 18.

Retained in chamber I8 is a reservoir 28 clampingly engaged by theterminal end of screw 26 and including a forwardly tapered portion 30sealingly engaging seal 20 and including an outlet tube incorporating atransverse, flangible seal 32 therein. Helium, for example, is chargedinto the cartridge 28 i.e. under a reduced temperature, for example, and

will be of sufficient quantity to inflate the balloon 14 to its fullcapacity. A firing pin assembly, integral with a discharge nozzle isindicated generally at 34, and comprises a tubular body element 36reciprocably supported in an apertured end wall 38 of the frame 16. Acompression spring 40 is circumposed about body element 36 and abuts theinner surface of a partition element 42 and urges the element 36 towardthe right in FIG. 3 by engaging a disc element 44 secured to the element36 The element 36 is tubular and includes an intermediate transverse,partition 46 which has apertures 48 communicating with chambers 50 and52 on opposite sides of the partition. Partition 48 has an axial,terminally sharpened pin 54 projecting toward a reduced-diameter bore 56into which the reduced diameter end of the reservoir 30 containing seal32 projects. Chamber 50 communicates with a tubular neck 58communicating with a diverging nozzle 60 about which the resilientneck-n of the balloon 14 is sealingly disposed. To insure againstleakage, an elastic band 62, see FIG. 2, is circumposed about the neckof the balloon.

Integral with the frame 16 is a lateral passage 64 in which a lock pin66 is urged by spring 68 toward a notch 70 in body element 36. Aflexible lanyard 72 is secured to pin 66; extending through spring 68,and extends through spaced guides 74 and 76, and over a forward rollerelement 78. The lanyard 72 comprises the means for tethering theassembly from a boat etc. and it will be noted that it is attachedlaterally with respect to the longitudinal axis of the frame 16. Thisarrangement will cause the assembly, when aloft, to oscillate and thuswhen aloft in the day light, and when reflecting the suns rays, shorttugs on the lanyard 72 will reorient the incidence of reflection toattract a viewer's eye.

The frame 16 includes a rear or nominally lower chamber receivingthereover a lens 81 and retention collar 82. An electrically energizedbulb 84 is disposed above a reflector 86 operatively connected to apower source or batteries in a sealed chamber 88 (not shown in detail),and a control switch 90 is connected through the medium of aperturedlever 93 to a flexible control line 92 accessible in the boat L or atthe ground. The control line 92 can be periodically tugged in arepetitive pattern to energize and deenergize the bulb 84 and sendsignals in International code etc. to attract the attention ofsearchers, at night, for example.

Referring to FIGS. 4 and 5, a carrier assembly having the same generalstructure and function as the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 3, is indicatedgenerally at 112, and applicable where feasible will identify similarlyfunctioning parts with series reference characters duplicating those ofthe previously described embodiment. This embodiment functions with aballoon 14 (as in that previously described) and the neck of the balloonis retained on a funnel-shaped discharge nozzle 160 by means of aresilient band 162.

A frame 116 comprises a tubular sleeve 117 defining a chamber 118 whichreceives therein a reservoir or cartridge I28, and the element 116includes an apertured, transverse wall 146 from which projects an axial,sharpened pin 154 which is normally spaced from seal 132. The frame 116includes a forward chamber 150 communicating with the tubular neck 158of the diverging nozzle 160. The rear end of the cartridge 128 is spacedfrom the adjacent end of a rear sealing wall 123 ofsleeve 121.

The cartridge 128 can bemoved toward the pin 154 by (l) screwing sleeve121 forwardly onto sleeve 117 or (2) an cecentric lift lever 123 extendsinto the sleeve 121 beneath the cartridge, and an exteriorly disposedlever 125 is accessible outside the sleeve I21 whereby rotation of lever125 to the position illustrated imposes an axial force onto cartridge128 and provides a safety to prevent the seal 132 from being puncturedby pin 154. When the lever is rotated to a position whereby said axialforce is released and the sleeve 12] is screwed forwardly as describedinflating gas under pressure passes through the apertured wall 146 andinto a balloon 14 on nozzle 160.

The sleeve 121 has formed integrally therewith a rear en larged chamber180 receiving therein a battery pack 189 and a retention collar 182retains a reflector 186 and lens 181 in position. A manually operableswitch 190 is operatively connected in a circuit to the battery pack 189and an electrically energized element 184, and the switch is connectedto an operating lever 193 connected to a control line 192. Signals canbe sent with the embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5, just as in the previouslydescribed embodiment.

The sleeve 117 has projecting from an intermediate portion thereofOutriggers 113, 115 to which are connected tethering lines 172 and 173,and thus the carrier, while aloft, can be oscillated during light ordark hours to attract a searchers attention.

The enlarged housing 180 tends to stabilize the carrier when aloft, andon the other hand when the outriggers 113, 115 are engaged by the wind,the carrier oscillates the tethered emergency signal device.

OPERATION Each embodiment can be used at sea in the manner shown in FIG.1 or the assemblies can be used on land in dense jungles, mountainouscountry etc. In each embodiment, there is provided an inflating gasreservoir for sealingly inflating a suitably colored and readily visiblesignal balloon. The carriers 12 and 112 each incorporate abattery-operated signal optionally controlled where the balloon isanchored.

We claim:

1. An emergency signal device for use with an inflatable signal ballooncapable of floating aloft when inflated with a buoyant gas such ashelium or the like, comprising:

a carrier assembly including a pressurized charge of buoyant gas;

a discharge nozzle connected at one end to said reservoir and its otherend sealingly connected to a balloon, means for selectively establishingfluid communication between said discharge nozzle and said reservoir forinflating a balloon; and tethering means attached to said carrierassembly for anchoring said carrier assembly while aloft with aninflated balloon, said tethering means including eccentric connectionson said carrier assembly for oscillating said assembly and the incidenceof light reflection on the balloon while aloft, said carrier assemblycomprising a frame work; said reservoir comprising a cartridge retainedin said framework and having a frangible seal disposed towards saiddischarge nozzle, said discharge nozzle including a piercing pin,spring-urged towards said frangible seal, a lock pin engaged with saidpiercing pin and normally preventing the pin from perforating saidfrangible seal, said means for selectively establishing fluidcommunication including a lanyard accessible exteriorly of saidframework and operatively connected to said piercing pin, said eccentricconnections comprising an outrigger extending from opposite sides ofsaid carrier assembly and cords connected to outer ends of saidoutrigger whereby manipulation of one or both of said cords, when theassembly is aloft, causes various reflection angles when the balloon isoscillated.

2. The structure as claimed in claim 1 in which said nozzle comprising atubular member terminating in a diverging funnel-like end, and aresilient band circumposed about said nozzle for engaging about the neckof a balloon telescoped thereon.

3. An emergency signal device for use with an inflatable, signal ballooncapable of floating aloft when inflated with a buoyant gas such ashelium or the like, comprising:

a carrier assembly including a reservoir for containing a pressurizedcharge of buoyant gas, a discharge nozzle connected at one end to saidreservoir and its other end sealingly connected to a balloon, means forselectively establishing fluid communication between said dischargenozzle and said reservoir for inflating a balloon; and tethering meansattached to said carrier assembly for anchoring said carrier assemblywhile aloft with an inflated balloon, said tethering means includingeccentric connections on said carrier assembly for oscillating saidassembly and the incidence of light reflection on the balloon whilealoft, said carrier assembly comprising a longitudinal chamber, saidreservoir comprising a cartridge contained in said chamber and having afrangible seal disposed adjacent said discharge nozzle, a piercing pinin said discharge nozzle normally spaced from said frangible seal andsubject to penetrating said seal when the car tridge is urged towardssaid pin.

4. The structure as claimed in claim 3 in which said chamber comprisesthreadedly engaged sleeve elements.

5. The structure as claimed in claim 4 in which said chamber includes anexteriorly disposed force transmitting element pivoted on a shaftextending diametrically beneath said chamber, and an eccentricforce-transmitting portion connected to said lever and disposed beneathsaid cartridge for urging the cartridge toward the piercing pin.

6. The structure as claimed in claim 1 including supplemental signalmeans on said carrier assembly, said supplemental signal meanscomprising means for emitting light rays.

7. The structure as claimed in claim 6 in which said means for emittinglight rays comprises a source of electrical energy, switch means, and anelectrically illuminated element operatively connected to the source ofelectrical energy and said switch means.

8. The structure as claimed in claim 7 in which said switch meansincludes a manual control portion connected to a flexible operating cordsuspended from the carrier assembly when the assembly is aloft wherebythe electrically illuminated element can be controlled to produce arepetitive signal or the like.

